Pages

main banner

Friday, October 25, 2013

Fairfax County study analyzes traffic problems at Seven Corners

The Seven Corners interchange.

Business owners, real estate professionals, and residents of
Seven Corners gathered for an early breakfast at Public House No. 7 Oct. 24 to
learn about the results of the first phase of the Seven Corners Transportation
Study.

It’s clear that any plans for reinvestment won’t be
successful unless something is done about the horrendous traffic congestion
around the main intersection of Arlington Boulevard (Route 50), Leesburg Pike
(Route 7), and Wilson Boulevard.

To document the current state of traffic congestion in Seven
Corners, researchers collected “vehicle movement counts” at 17 locations along
the Route 50/Route 7 interchange and at 19 locations on surrounding roads, said Kris Morley-Nikfar, a transportation planner in FCDOT.

A helicopter was used to take aerial photos—at the rate of
one image per second—on April 16 during the peak traffic periods: between 7:30 and 8:50
a.m. and between 4:35 and 5:50 p.m. The result was an “origin-destination
analysis” determining traffic volume through the area.

Researchers found most of the traffic involves people passing through Seven
Corners; drivers are starting at a point outside the area and heading to a
destination outside the area.

Among other findings:

Traffic volume in the interchange area is highest during the
weekday afternoon peak period, followed by Saturday midday, and then the
weekday morning peak period.

Over 82 percent of the peak p.m. period traffic is through
traffic.

Traffic on routes 50 and 7 comprise over 72 percent of total
traffic.

Most of the delay occurs in the interchange area, with
several intersections operating at the “F” level of service, which indicates
the highest amount of delays.

There are long queues of cars on eastbound Route 7 and westbound on Route 50 and Wilson
Boulevard during the peak times.

One member of the audience suggested that most of the
traffic is passing through the area because people who live in Seven Corners avoid
the area due to the heavy congestion. And that is discouraging economic
development because people can’t get to local businesses easily.

The researchers also conducted observations of pedestrian
and bicycle activity throughout the interchange area. Unsurprisingly, they
found very little of both, due to high
speeds, difficult crossings, and lack of sidewalks, bike lanes, and crosswalks.

The second phase of the Seven Corners Traffic Study, to be completed in spring 2014, will consist
of an assessment of future land use scenarios and transportation network
recommendations to be developed by the Seven Corners Task Force. The study will
identify medium and long-term solutions for the Seven Corners interchange and
surrounding roads and suggest mitigation measures to address current traffic
problems.

Mason Supervisor Penny Gross told the group the Seven Corners Task Force
will finish its work in fall 2014. At that point, the task force will submit
its recommendations for revitalizing Seven Corners along with proposed language
for incorporating its recommendations into an amendment to the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan.

Gross said she plans to introduce a measure at the Oct. 30
Board of Supervisors meeting seeking authorization for a plan amendment. That
needs to be done to ensure the BoS will consider the plan amendment when it is
submitted next fall.

Meanwhile, there are some other things going on in Seven
Corners, Gross said. A Gold’s Gym is taking over the space formerly occupied by
Fitness First in the newly renovated shopping center between Route 50
and Wilson Boulevard. In addition, Fairfax
County Public Schools is continuing to pursue the potential for converting the
five-story office building at 6245 Leesburg Pike into what could be the county’s
first urban-style school.

Another presentation at the Bailey’s Business Breakfast, on
the county’s transportation planning process, will be discussed in a future post.

Jan. 16 - Annual Give Together, a family volunteer event on the Martin Luther King National Day of Service, Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia, three shifts (9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m.). Sign up with Volunteer Fairfax. 703-246-3828,